Cranial nerves Flashcards
What are the cranial nerves?
- Olfactory nerve [I]
- Optic nerve [II]
- Oculomotor nerve [III]
- Trochlear nerve (IV]
- Trigeminal nerve [V]
- Abducent nerve [VI]
- Facial nerve [VII]
- Vestibulocochlear nerve [VIII]
- Glossopharyngeal nerve [IX]
- Vagus nerve [X]
- Accessory nerve [XI]
- Hypoglossal nerve [XII]
Which cranial nerves contain somatomotor fibres?
- [III]
- [IV]
- [VI]
- [XII]
Which cranial nerves contain branchiomotor fibres?
- [V]
- {VII]
- {IX]
- [X]
- Cranial root of [XI]
Which cranial nerves contain taste fibres?
- [VII] - Anterior 2/3 of tongue
- [IX] - Posterior 1/3 of tongue
- [X] - Epiglottic valleculae
Which cranial nerves contain somatosensory fibres?
- [V]
- [VII]
- [IX]
- [X]
What are the contents of the oculomotor nerve [III]?
- Somatic motor fibres supplying extraocular muscles of the eyes.
- Parasympathetic fibres supplying ciliary muscles and muscle sphincter pupillae.
What is the course of the motor component of the oculomotor nerve?
- Leaves the anterior aspects of the brainstem between the midbrain and pons.
- Pierces roof of cavernous sinus to run in its lateral walls.
- Once it emerges from the cavernous sinus, it divides into the superior and inferior divisions.
- These divisions exit the skull through the superior orbital fissure.
- The superior division supplies:
- Levator palpebrae superioris
- Superior rectus - The inferior divisions supples:
- Inferior rectus
- Medial rectus
- Inferior oblique
What is the course of the parasympathetic component of the oculomotor nerve?
- Fibres originates from the Edinger-Westphal nucleus and travels with the oculomotor nerve in its inferior division.
- Reaches the ciliary ganglion between the lateral surface of the optic nerve and the lateral rectus.
- Leaves ciliary ganglion via 10-12 ciliary nerves to supply the cilliary body and sphincter pupillae.
Which pharyngeal arch is the facial nerve [VII] associated with?
2nd arch
Where does the facial nerve arise?
Anterolateral aspects of brainstem between pons and medulla
What are the contents of the facial nerve?
- Branchiomotor fibres supplying:
1. Muscles of facial expression
2. Buccinator
3. Posterior digastric
4. Stapedius
5. Stylohyoid
6. Occipital belly of occipitofrontalis - Parasympathetic fibres supplying:
1. Lacrimal glands
2. Submandibular glands
3. Sublingual glands
4. Palatine glands - Somatosensory fibres supplying:
1. Skin of external auditory meatus
2. Tympanic membrane - Special sensory fibres sypplying taste to anterior 2/3 of tongue
What is the course of the facial nerve?
- The facial nerve emerges from the lateral aspects of the brainstem between the pons and medulla as 2 separate roots: A large motor root and a small nervus intermedius (containing sensory and parasympathetic fibres).
- The 2 roots enter the internal acoustic meatus into the facial canal (of petrous temporal bone), where they merge to form the facial nerve.
- When the facial nerve reaches the medial wall of the middle ear, it forms a swelling called the geniculate ganglion.
- The nerve then proceeds to run posteriorly and then inferiorly.
- It exits the facial canal (and indeed the skull) through the stylomastoid foramen.
- Once outside the skull, it penetrates the parotid gland, in which it divides into upper and lower divisions.
What are the branches of the facial nerve in the facial canal?
At geniculate ganglion:
- Greater petrosal nerve: Carries parasympathetic fibres to lacrimal glands via pterygopalatine ganglion.
After geniculate ganglion:
- Nerve to stapedius: Innervates stapedius.
- Chorda tympani: Carries special sensory fibres supplying taste to anterior 2/3 of tongue, as well as parasympathetic fibres to submandibular and sublingual glands via the submandibular ganglion.
What are branches of the facial nerve outside skull before entering parotid glands?
- Nerve to occipital belly of occipitofrontalis
- Nerve to stylohyoid
- Nerve to posterior digastric
What are the branches of the facial nerve to the face?
- All branches outside the skull contain purely motor fibres.
- Branches of the upper division are:
1. Temporal: Orbicularis oculi & frontalis
2. Zygomatic: Muscles of the eyelids
3. Buccal: Buccinator, orbicularis oris and muscles of external nose (facial expression) - Branches of the lower division are:
1. Mandibular: Muscles of the lower lip and chin
2. Cervical: Platysma
What are the contents of the trigeminal nerve?
- Somatosensation fibres supplying:
1. Face
2. Orbit
3. Tongue - Branchiomotor fibres (in V3) supplying:
1. Muscles of masticaltion
2. Mylohyoid
3. Anterior digastric
4. Tensor palati
5. Tensor tympani